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If you’re already a saver, you might ask yourself the question “what if I save more”? Increasing your existing savings rate by even 1% can yield big results. Save even more and the results are even better. The more you’re able to save and the longer you’re able to save it will open your savings up to the magic of compounding, or the ability to earn interest on your re-invested earned interest.
Home equity lines of credit often have more flexible repayment terms than a standard home equity loan. Home equity loan payments are typically fixed over the repayment period, while home equity lines of credit can offer interest-only payment terms or outstanding balances can be repaid using a variety of repayment strategies.
The decision to refinance a home mortgage can involve many factors. You might want to take cash out of your home at when you refinance to use for other purposes. But the most common purpose is to obtain a lower interest rate and lower monthly payments. In the latter case, the decision to refinance should be based on lowering the overall mortgage costs and breaking even on the refinance in a reasonable period of time.
Saving for a college education requires advanced planning and knowledge of what the cost of a college education will be when your student begins his college experience. You’ll first need to know how long it will be before your student sets foot on campus, what the cost of that education is today and how much the cost will increase between now and then. You’ll need to know how many years of college you’ll be paying for, which is dependant on the degree program being pursued. Once you have that information, you’ll be able to know how much you’ll need to save. Putting together a plan will depend on what you currently have saved, how much you can save each month and the rate of return you’ll receive on those savings.
A 401(k) account available through your employer is one of the best methods for building retirement savings. There are two key advantages. First, any contributions made to your 401(k) now are tax deferred, so each year’s total taxable income will be lower. Second, some employers provide 401(k) match programs where they contribute to your 401(k) account. Depending on the program, employer contributions can range from 0% to 100% of your contributions.
Contributions to a Traditional 401(k) plan are made on a pre-tax basis, resulting in a lower tax bill and higher take home pay. Contributions made to a Roth 401(k) are made on an after-tax basis, which means that taxes are paid on the amount contributed in the current year. The reverse is true once you are eligible to make 401(k) withdrawals. Withdrawals from Traditional 401(k) plans are taxable, while those made from a Roth 401(k) are not.
You’ve made it to retirement, or perhaps you’re just counting down the days until you retire. You’ve got money put away, but need to know how long it will last. There are a number of key factors that will determine that, including your monthly spending and other sources of income. The rate of return on your outstanding savings balance, the taxes you pay on withdrawals and the impact inflation has on your required monthly spending will all have significant impact as well.
The Social Security benefits you (and a spouse) will receive at retirement can be estimated based on your average annual income, your current age and your age when you retire. For a more accurate and detailed estimate, visit the Social Security Administration website at www.ssa.gov where benefits can be determined based upon your exact earnings history and the exact date of your retirement.
Saving for retirement can be a challenging task. The starting point for any retirement planning is an understanding of what your retirement needs will be. Once you’ve done that, you’ll have a target to aim at and be able to put together a savings plan that will get you there. Defining your retirement need requires that you have a retirement age in mind and a basic understanding of what your spending needs will be during your retirement years. A simple approach for defining your retirement needs is based on using a percentage of your current income, adjusted for inflation between now and when you retire. You might also want to consider how your salary will change based on merit or cost of living increases. Your retirement savings plan will follow; driven largely by what you’ve saved to date and what you can save going forward each month. Don’t forget to factor in any pensions or social security payments that you’ll be entitled to receive during retirement.
Spending money today has a retirement price tag on it. What you fail to put away today for your retirement will impact how much you have available to you when you’re ready to retire. That price tag will depend on how many years you are away from retirement and the rate of return you could receive on those funds over the savings period.
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